MACOMB, Okla. – A sixth grade teacher in Macomb has been charged for allegedly sexually harassing two students.
In February, a 12-year-old student and a 13-year-old student complained to school officials about 46-year-old Glenn Ronning.
The two sixth graders say Ronning took their close relationship too far.
Macomb parents are disturbed but not surprised.
One Macomb mother, who doesn’t want to be identified, says she’s not the only one who had a weird feeling about Glenn Ronning.
“You just have that feeling that there’s just something not right,” she says. “He just creeps you out.”
Months ago, several parents complained about Ronning using cuss words in class which made them furious.
But their kids thought differently.
“A lot of kids spent a lot of time with him,” she says. “They thought he was a super teacher. They liked him. I guess he connected with the kids real good.”
But when he allegedly crossed the line, that all changed.
Two students told stories of Ronning touching them inappropriately and even allegedly inviting one young girl to spend the night.
The two girls told school officials who immediately called parents and police.
Pottawatomie County Assistant District Attorney Bob Booth says, “It’s very rare in circumstances like this that we have youngsters in particular that are able to come forward and brave enough to share what’s happened to them.”
This outraged small community says they gave Ronning their trust, leaving their children with him every day.
“It’s almost a second set of caregivers in some cases,” says Booth. “We trust these individuals with our students, with our family members.”
“I guess from all of this I’ve learned that you need to go with your first instinct,” says the Macomb mother. “You don’t want your kids to be without you. I mean school, church anyplace anymore.”
The sixth grade teacher is now on suspension from the school.
In a statement from Matthew Riggs, the superintendent of Macomb Public Schools, he said, “Macomb Public Schools cannot comment on personnel or student issues specifically. I can however state that student safety and well-being is our top concern at Macomb Public Schools. We investigate thoroughly and take seriously any allegations we receive.”
Ronning is charged with four counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16.